Archaeologists have discovered an ancient structure in Bahrain that is believed to be one of the oldest Christian structures in the Gulf region. The project was a collaborative effort first launched in 2019 by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, led by Dr Salman Al Mahari, and led by Professor Timothy Insol from the University of Exeter’s Arab and Islamic Studies Institute.
according to Christian TodayIn 2014, a Bahraini and British team excavated the Samahij necropolis and discovered the remains of a 300-year-old mosque buried underground. Digging deeper revealed a large building with eight rooms, including a kitchen, dining room, workshop and three living quarters.
“The findings suggest that the building may have been the residence of diocesan bishops, including Samahij,” the Bahrain government media team said.
“Records also show the region’s connections to central church authorities, with one bishop being deposed in 410 AD and another being accused of challenging the unity of the church in the mid-7th century,” the statement continued.
The Eastern Church, also known as the Nestorian Church, dates back to the 4th century and flourished in the region until the spread of Islam in the 7th century.
“We stress the importance of the site and the need to preserve it, highlighting its historical and archaeological value,” Professor Insol said.
“We were amused to discover that someone had used bitumen to paint part of a face onto a mother-of-pearl shell, possibly that of a child who lived in the building,” he continued. “This is the first physical evidence of a Nestorian church in Bahrain and gives us a fascinating insight into how people lived, worked and worshipped here.”
During the excavation, archaeologists also found three plaster crosses – two on the outside of the building and one that may have been kept as a personal keepsake – as well as wall carvings featuring a fish symbol and part of an etching of “Chi Rho,” a reference to the words of Jesus.
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